Experts - Bed Bugs Infest Western Arkansas

BaltimoreSun.comFriday, October 7, 2011

Thousands of bed bugs invade a Fort Smith home forcing the
family spend hundreds of dollars in extermination costs. Experts
say bed bugs are a growing problem in Northwest Arkansas and the
River Valley.

In white suits sealed with duct tape, exterminators armed with
chemicals enter a Fort Smith home Friday morning on a mission. "We
feel confident that none are gonna get out," said Richard Bernard,
with Tri-Hill
Turf & Pest, "We're wearing this to prevent any of those
little critters from getting on us."

Crews spray, search, and steam just about everything inside the
home. "We'll probably be here about six or seven hours taking care
of all the rooms in the house," said Hill.

Hill says last year the team treated three homes for bed bugs,
but this year they have already had between 35 and 40 homes. "With
the increased international travel, these things are spreading," he
said.

The family in Fort Smith picked up bed bugs at a hotel on
vacation. "They'll get in your luggage," said Hill, "They'll get in
your clothing and that's how you transport them home."

Bed bugs come out at night and feed on human blood. "They don't
jump," said Hill, "They don't fly, but they do crawl really good.
They can travel 15, 20 feet at night."

To spot a bed bug, get a flash light and check the piping on the
bed. "You can actually see these things crawling around," said
Hill, "They don't like the light so they'll scurry back into the
darkness pretty quickly."

Killing bed bugs takes time and money. Extermination can cost
thousands of dollars.

Tri-Hill Turf & Pest will come back in about two weeks to
check for more bed bugs.